27Synonyms found for sanction

Word Origin & History

sanction 1563, "confirmation or enactment of a law," from L. sanctionem (nom. sanctio) "act of decreeing or ordaining," also "decree, ordinance," from sanctus, pp. of sancire "to decree, confirm, ratify, make sacred" (see saint). Originally especially of ecclesiastical decrees. The verb sense of "to permit authoritatively" is from 1797. Sanctions, in international diplomacy, first recorded 1919, from sanction (n.) in the sense of "part or clause of a law which spells out the penalty for breaking it" (1651).

Example Sentences for sanction

The panel has the option of recommending treatment, a small fine, or no sanction.

The twilight-realm of phantasy is upheld by the sanction of humanity and every hungry soul looks here for help and sympathy.

Because of the dangers, dive organizations refuse to sanction no-limits diving.

They can go abroad, to countries where the authorities sanction or ignore payments to living donors.

Above all, it is a popular practice that took hold without magisterial sanction.

There is no political settlement to be had with those who base their views on divine sanction.

It has its pick of partners and can easily sanction those that don't cooperate with it.

There is no sanction if their parents refuse to take them.

The sanction for those countries that don't produce enough self-critical jokes is a simple one: they will be ignored.

It means, of course, that someone should escape legal sanction if he or she kills them or is party to killing them.